ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo left the pitch after the game. world cup finals In Portugal’s case, he has a stoic expression on his face, just a hint of emotion. He gave a brief wave to thank the cheering fans, the same feeling he felt after past losses.
After the match, Ronaldo, who slightly covered his eyes with his right hand, said, “It’s sad. It’s normal after a defeat like this.”
The 41-year-old superstar’s sixth and final World Cup ended in victory. Lost 1-0 to border rivals Spain in Monday’s round of 16 match.
“I gave everything, I gave my best, and I leave with a clear conscience,” he said. “This is football, and for football players it’s life. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”
Ronaldo, the only player to score in six consecutive World Cups and career leader in international goals with 146, said yesterday that he hoped this would not be his last appearance and that he wanted to enjoy it as much as possible.
But he reiterated at the time, and again after the loss to Spain, that this would be the last time he would take part in the tournament, which is played every four years. His highest ever World Cup finish was in the semi-finals of his debut in 2006.
As for other future plans, I’m not ready to say yet.
“Yes, this was my last World Cup, but other than that I have time to think, be with my family and move forward with my life without thinking about it,” he said.
Ronaldo was denied a goal in the first half by record-setting goalkeeper Unai Simón against Spain. made an impressive jump stop. It was one of his three shots.
Two of those shots were on target, one of which was still in the air when Simon reached out to grab the ball with both hands. After teammate Joao Félix’s header deflected off Simon’s shoulder, Ronaldo kicked backwards with his right foot.
“He’s an example, an example to follow. He’s someone we should admire. We’re talking about a football icon,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said through an interpreter. “There aren’t that many Cristiano Ronaldo. I think we have to thank him. His dream was to win the World Cup and he did it with a great example in the dressing room.”
Portugal had never won a major international tournament before Ronaldo. The first was the European Championship in 2016, followed by the addition of Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
ronaldo finale Soccer’s biggest stage It was eight years after he scored a World Cup hat-trick at the age of 33. This made him the oldest player to score a hat trick, a record he held until he was 38 years old. Lionel Messi scored 3 goals Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 on June 16th.
Ronaldo’s hat-trick came in the opening group stage game against Spain, which is considered one of the best games of the tournament, in a 3-3 draw against Spain, but neither team advanced to the knockout stages.
He scored three goals in this World Cup, and his 11 total goals are tied for ninth on the career list.
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